Send the Chiefs and the Buccaneers home; the real winner is Chunky Monkey.
Ahead of Super Bowl LV, Animal Planet returned with Season 17 of its popular game day programming, aka Puppy Bowl XVII. An annual event that gives spectators a chance to watch some adorable (and adoptable!) doggos while waiting for kickoff, the Puppy Bowl fetched 1.9 million viewers in 2020, and once again, found adoptive families for each of its players.
With 70 puppies from 22 different animal shelters appearing in this year’s Puppy Bowl, competition for Internet’s New Favorite Dog was, in a word, ruff. But when Chunky Monkey, an unspeakably precious, black-and-white ball of fluff with the face of an angel, pranced onto the field and immediately fell asleep — her opponents were finished.
Animal Planet described the 15-week-old pup hailing from Green Dogs Unleashed in Virginia as a Chow Chow, Irish Red, and White Setter mix online, but as a Chow Chow, Maltese, and Shiba Inu mix during the show. Either way, she’s a super chill canine with a distinct fondness for napping — a trait that earned her a penalty for excessive slumber during the Puppy Bowl’s first quarter.
Announcers said Chunky Monkey is expected to be 76 pounds, a good size for any dog, but particularly fitting of one seemingly named after a Ben and Jerry’s flavor. Oh, and Chunky Monkey’s inspiration in life? “Ruth Bader Gins-Bark.” Talented! Brilliant! Incredible!
Because the Puppy Bowl is pre-taped, Chunky Monkey was able to watch the show from home with her foster mom Cassandra Asekhauno, who tweeted that Chunky Monkey was enjoying seeing all of her friends from on screen.
Sadly, Chunky Monkey’s squad, Team Fluff, lost the game after a stunning comeback from Team Ruff, with a final score of 69-73. But Chunky Monkey’s friend Marshall, a seven-month-old Boston Terrier who Chunky Monkey was campaigning for via Asekhauno on Twitter, did clinch the title of Puppy Bowl MVP.
Now, treats for everybody — and Happy Puppy Bowl Sunday, Chunky Monkey!
If humans had fouls for excessive slumber, I would have been out of the game long ago. Get it, Chunky Monkey! Avenge all of us who handle stress with sleep! https://t.co/2Mmy0oXlu9
— Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) February 7, 2021